News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1887-02-17
June Trainings.
CAMBRIDGE, VT, Feb. II, 'S7.

CAMBRIDGE, VT, Feb. IL, 'S7.
MesSrs. Editors:
The mention of the "June train
ings" of by-gone days arouses many
memories, pleasant and otherwise, in
the minds of elderly people. What
gingerbread ever tasted half so de-
licious as that bought then? "Train-
ing day" was anxiously awaited, for
it brought many delights, especially
to the small boy. There was the ar
tillery company with snowy uniforms
black swallow-tail coats with red
facings, and the regulation white pants.
The officers carried swords, wore
cooked hats decorated with gay feath-
ers, and epauletts. Cannon swabs
were born aloft by the gunners. Dark
blue coats and white pants formed a
portion of the cavalry uniform, and
last, but not least, were the immense
fur caps, similar to those now worn
by drum-major. A rifle company
formed at Fairfax was conspicuous in
green uniforms. Only an old soldier
oan describe clearly the manual of
arms, while the evolutions are bewil-
dering in their rapidity to the specta-
tor. The simplest movements, such
as shouldering, presenting, carrying
and grounding arms requires practice
as the price of perfection, while to a
cadet, obedience to even the simple
command "about face" involves awk-
Wardness. But in speaking of the
independent companies we must not
forget the old Floodwood Militia, the
sinew of the service. The militia of
Vermont, or the Green Mountain
Boys, as they have been called since
the days of Ethan Allen, did valiant
service in the Revolutionary war.
They followed Stark to victory at Ben
nlngton, and as Burgoyne himself
complained in private letter, of the
"New Hampshire grants in partic-
ular, country unpeopled and almost
unknown in the last war, now abounds
with the most active and most rebel
lious race of the continent and hangs
like gathering storm on my left"
Later on the memorable 18th of Sep
TENDER, 1914, they fastened to the
assistance of gallant Commodore Nc
Donough, at Pittsburgh. The State
has ever sustained her record. Proud
ly the Vermont soldiers heard the
order given by Gen. Sedgwick, "Put
the Vermonters in the front and close
up the column"
There is, just within the western
limits of Cambridge, the grave of a
Hessian, who deserted from Bur-
goyne's army to join the American
forces. Notwithstanding the remon-
strances of friends, who were fearful
that if captured he would be sentenced
to death, he went as volunteer to
Plattsburgh. The British forces out
numbered our troops and on board
the transports was detected crowd
of American soldiers. The voice of
Majors rang out over the waters,
and the men listened and were en-
couraged by his spirited rendering of
an old battle hymn. During the en-
gagement he recognized among the
enemy's forces some of his former
commanders, but as they were busy
enough in preventing new assertions
without dealing with old cases, he re-
turned home safely and came to the
close of life "as shock of corn fully
ripe" having outlived the allotted
three score and ten" by thirty years.
With all the pleasant and interest
ing features of the old militia we
should not ignore the law, the main
spring of this organization. Quakers
we're not obliged to serve, as warlike
were a violation Of their
peaceful religious faith. Ministers,
teachers and students were